Squirrels Lead to Gun Battle

Article taken from The Walla Walla Union Bulletin, September 7, 1952

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PORTSMOUTH, O (AP) - A Portsmouth steel worker wounded two Ohio game protectors in a blazing gun battle when they tried to arrest him Sunday on a charge of shooting squirrels out of season.

The man, Julius W. Henderson, 43, of Portsmouth, was arrested at his home later, after state highway patrolmen and the sheriff's office had set up roadblocks in Scioto County.

The Ohio squirrel season opens Sept. 15.

Wounded were Peter D. Andre, 52, Scioto County game protector, and Robert H. Wheeler, Kingston, Ross County, state game protector at large.
The shooting took place on Henderson's property about 15 miles southwest of here.

Henderson said that when he went to his car he saw a man rise out of the weeds. He said he ordered the man off his property.
The man, one of the game wardens, fired a shot to call the other warden, after retreating to the highway.

They ordered Henderson to drop his .22 caliber pistol. While Wheeler said Henderson fired first, Henderson said he did not know who fired first.

He told newsmen he didn't think game wardens had a right to arrest him on his own property unless they had a warrant. They had none.